US electric and zero emission vehicle specialist Proterra, has entered another collaboration with a Daimler subsidiary, announcing it is teaming up with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp (FCCC) to develop the MT50e, a new all-electric delivery truck chassis.
Proterra tied up with Daimler in September 2018, when the German automotive giant bought in to the US specialist during a capital raising program.
Daimler co-led the particular round with Tao Capital Partners, which had invested previously.
At the time of the capital raising, Proterra said it would help in its quest to electrify the entire bus sector, but the deal provided an entrée to a business opportunity between Proterra and Daimler.
The two companies at the time entered into an agreement to explore the electrification of select Daimler heavy-duty vehicles.
They have already been involved in a collaboration with Daimler’s North American school bus subsidiary, Thomas Built Buses, using Proterra’s proprietary battery and drivetrain technology.
The new collaboration with Freightliner Custom Chassis will see a nbew delivery vehicle built on FCCC’s MT platform, the MT50e, and will feature a Proterra battery system with 226 kWh of energy capacity and an all-electric, zero-emission drive system.
The all-electric chassis will support a GVWR of 7,000kg to 10,000kg, with no reduction in cargo volume capacity. The vehicle is designed to enable more than 200km driving range and can fully charge in three hours with SAE J1772 CCS DC fast charging.
“The new MT50e blends the earth-friendly and efficient performance of an electric vehicle with the undisputed strength and ruggedness that’s made FCCC the most reliable chassis on the market,” says Mike Stark, product manager for commercial chassis at FCCC
“The MT50e builds on our heritage of technological innovation and propels both us and our customers into an era of zero emissions for last-mile delivery vehicles,” he adds.
The MT50e is designed to combine the reliability and durability of FCCC’s products with the efficiency and performance of a factory-installed, fully integrated electric power system. The MT50e is the first planned product in what will be a portfolio of all-electric products for a variety of vocations including pick-up and delivery, baker and linen vocations.
